as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
he came home with a black eye from the dustup at the bar
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Recent Examples of dustup
This is a worthy topic due to the prevailing media handwringing that due to post-election disagreements, there will be salty dustups at the Thanksgiving table.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
The ensuing dustup in the goal crease left the Ducks with a brief two-man advantage.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2025
In a hypothetical military dustup between the two members of NATO, Denmark could invoke the alliance’s sacred mutual-defense clause against the U.S. Article 5 states that an attack on one is an attack on all.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jan. 2025
Hilaria was annoyed by his many dustups with the press and tried to make peace.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for dustup
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
The ensuing dustup in the goal crease left the Ducks with a brief two-man advantage.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2025
In a hypothetical military dustup between the two members of NATO, Denmark could invoke the alliance’s sacred mutual-defense clause against the U.S. Article 5 states that an attack on one is an attack on all.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jan. 2025
Hilaria was annoyed by his many dustups with the press and tried to make peace.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for dustup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dustup
Noun
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The clashes are a sign of growing tensions at the Lebanon-Syria border, northeast of the Beqaa valley, where predominantly Shiite Lebanese villages have seen skirmishes with Syrian soldiers in recent weeks.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
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After his skirmish with Diarra, Neal waved his arms to fire up Creighton fans in the sellout crowd.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The order’s provision to outlaw post-Election Day ballot tabulation sets up a clash between Trump and California. County officials are given nearly a month to process ballots and millions of ballots in the state are counted in the days and weeks after an election.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Dudek was promoted when his predecessor resigned, in mid-February, following clashes with DOGE staffers who were attempting to access information about Social Security recipients.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The 65-year-old Augustinian friar and his three fellow monks, who have dedicated their lives to silent prayer inside Florence’s Santo Spirito monastery, are preparing to go into battle over plans to open a luxury retirement home on the site.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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What else is going on Point Reyes’ historic dairies have been ousted after a legal battle.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Can blue cities and states, nonprofits and good-hearted corporations keep up the fight without any federal help?—
Bill Weir,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
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This is not the moment to slow down the fight or turn our backs on TB.—
Peter Sands,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dustup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dustup. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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